Jonathan Larson never got to
see the impact his work made in musical theater. His is a moving, tragic story
of an artist who struggled for years to make his mark on Broadway and with few
strokes of success was finally set to reach his dream when his new musical Rent
was scheduled to premier Off-Broadway. On the morning of January 26, 1996, on
the day of the first preview of the show, Larson was found dead in his
apartment from what was believed to be a case of undiagnosed Marfan syndrome.
Jonathan Larson would never
know that Rent would become a smash hit, moving to Broadway in April of
1996 and running a total of 12 years. Larson received 4 posthumous awards —3 Tony
awards (Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score) and a Pulitzer Prize for
Drama. His masterpiece would be called “an
era-defining musical.”
A glimpse at Jonathan Larson
before Rent
It’s been 20 years since Rent
was first staged on Broadway. The play has been produced countless times in
various productions across the globe and was later adapted into a film. In
2001, his “rock monologue” tick, tick… BOOM! was reworked and
revamped with the aid of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn (Proof)
and was staged Off-Broadway. Originally written as one-man show with a band had
transformed into a musical of three actors and the autobiographical book
presents the struggles and life of a “struggling artist,”
who wonders
whether he should continue on his chosen path, pursue his passion, just as he
is about to turn 30.
Set in the early
1990s, tick, tick… BOOM! is the story of Jon, a struggling musical composer, who has yet
to make his mark on Broadway and questions the life decisions he has made. His
girlfriend, Susan, a dancer, who teaches ballet to “wealthy and untalented
children” suggests leaving New York
to raise a family while pursuing a different career. His best friend, Michael,
is a marketing research executive, who was once an aspiring actor. Michael
suggests that Jon should come work with him at his firm and lead a more secure
and stable life.
This is not an
unfamiliar story. Through the years, the choice of pursuing one’s passion over a stable
and secure life is one that has plagued generations of artists and creative
professionals from around the globe. In the song, Johnny Can’t Decide, the age-old question “Compromise or persevere” strikes true to the
hearts of every person who has faced this dilemma.
There is
poignancy in the musical’s theme as this was the musical that Jonathan Larson wrote
before he penned the award-winning smash hit Rent. We have all come to
know which path he chose, and had he not passed, we only can imagine what more
he could have done and achieved, what with the validation and success that Rent
garnered.
But what about
his characters Jon, Susan, and Michael? What choice did they make?
***
Portraying the
roles of Jon, Susan, and Michael are theater luminaries Jef Flores (Gawad Buhay
awardee for This Is Our Youth), Tanya Manalang (fresh off her two-year
stint in the critically acclaimed Cameron Mackintosh produced revival of Miss
Saigon in the UK), and Ariel Reonal (whose long list of credentials include
the original run and the West End revival of Miss Saigon and as a
vocalist at the Golden Mickeys in Hong Kong Disneyland).
tick, tick…BOOM! is directed by Robbie Guevara, Daniel Bartolome as musical director, Elisanta
Cortez as vocal supervisor, Arnold
Trinidad as choreographer, Mio Infante as scenographer, Mickey Hirai as costume designer and stylist, Martin
Esteva as lighting
designer, Myrene Santos as hair and makeup
designer, Philleep Masaquel as Technical Director, JC
Inocian as photographer,
and Maine Manalansan as graphic creative
manager.
Heading the
production team is executive producer Santi Santamaria, with Anna Santamaria as company manager, Sunshine
Domine as production manager, Toff de Venecia as PR director, Jonjon Martin and Issa Tuason as PR managers, GM Hernandez as marketing manager,
and Arma Bonilla as stage manager.
***
tick, tick…BOOM! will have a limited run
on October 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23, 2016 at 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturday, and 3:30pm on
Sundays.
For further
inquiries, contact 586.7105, 0917.554.5560, Ticketworld at 891.9999, or email info@9workstheatrical.com.
Facebook:
9WorksTheatrical. Twitter & Instagram: @9WTonline.
Hashtag: #9WTticktickboom
***
tick, tick…BOOM! is brought to you by 9
Works Theatrical, in association with The Rockwell Club and MAC Cosmetics as the official make-up
partner.
tick, tick…BOOM! is presented
through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
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